- The PS in search of untrodden paths - The PS has declared that the purpose of its existence and its political mission is the socialist ideal. Of course, it is not good to “kill” anyone’s ideal, but it is good to beware of an ideal “that kills.” The communist ideal has impoverished our people considerably, so it is sensible to be careful that the socialist ideal does not kill them too. It has been declared that the X Congress of the PP(S) achieved the separation of the PS from the PP. To repeat an earlier distinction, it must be said that the PS itself is not identical to the PP; the greatest differences lie in the fact that a) the PP fought for the communist ideal, whereas the PS fights for the socialist ideal; b) the PP had declared that it had built socialism, whereas the PS declares it an ideal that must be built. With this goal achieved, the bourgeois aphoristic definition of socialism “as a long and difficult road from capitalism... to capitalism” would be transformed into the socialist aphoristic definition of pluralist democracy “as a long and difficult road for Albanians from socialism... to socialism.” With this, revenge for the bourgeois mockery would be complete. It was above all on the basis of proclaiming the “great difference” that Albanian socialists began their “great march” to advertise their own path. In full competition with foreign and domestic theoreticians, the theoreticians F. ZanaJ, A. Mezini, etc., etc., stood out for their particular zeal. After writing dozens of articles, giving interviews, receiving honoraria, writing around the districts and holding discussions as if they had not expressed a single socialist idea (yes, yes, socialists, not “right-wingers”), someone asks them: “What should the congress clarify?” And the answer is: “The Socialist Party is being asked, at its congress, to devise better what the alternative it supports for European democratic socialism represents...” (M. Ahmataj, ZP, 5.6.1992). As if that were not enough, he also delves into all the theory to date, from Thomas More through to socialism. (Continued on page 3) HYSAMEDIN FERAJ

◉ THE SOCIALIST PARTY achieved the victory of the democratic revolution: perhaps by fighting most of the other parties (?) ◉ THE SOCIALIST PARTY survived and withstood a capital-wide tide that reached its peak on 22 March this year, registering more than 100 thousand members at the (I) (II) Congress (?) ◉ THE SOCIALIST PARTY supported, led and organized every revolt, protest and strike aimed at bringing down the current government. ◉ THE SOCIALIST PARTY has significantly increased its membership, but it is understood that membership targets for this period were achieved only 50 percent, even though many have left it. ◉ The chairman of the PP(S) in Durrës, criticizing the name of the PP, said: “You can be called Bukuri and not be beautiful; you can be called Dashnor and not have been in love for even a single day,” but he did not say that you could be called “socialist” and continue to be a “PUNIST.” The Delegate

THE PP(S), FOR THE THIRD TIME WITH ITS FIRST CONGRESS... The First Congress was held in 1943. It was chaired by the commander himself. Of course, many songs must have been sung that year too. Thereafter the congresses followed one another. Congresses that perhaps set a model for discipline, a model for spectacle. After each one, Albania rose higher, became richer and more knowledgeable. It was only the other day that the commander died. His death shook the earth. It shook the congresses too. The leader’s number-one successor, dear Ramiz, also held the continuity congress (the ninth). Then he was given the title “Kush ze fll në” and the sequence of congresses was broken. The uproar was enormous. Everywhere, at home, in the streets and in cafés, people began saying that the PS would change, would build and so on. And that is indeed what happened. Within one night communism became socialism, and the PP party turned into the PS. The victory was extraordinary. Only... nobody understood the number of this congress (I) 10-1? Apr. 1-12? What did Spiro Dede and his followers want to call it? The tenth, just like that. Ramiz kept silent... In any case, both the tenth and the first remained. (Difficult-to-read text.) Now socialism is holding its third congress and its (I) ... After the party... For the third time, the first congress (I). This means that the Party likes being 50 years old / when the time comes for the fiftieth anniversary, it still cannot keep track of the sequence of its congresses. H. Hasani

Comrade Fatos himself had declared that we—that is, the socialists—are capable of putting forward not one but several candidates for senior government posts all at once. In all likelihood, the I (I) congress may continue its proceedings tomorrow as well. The question of the chairman has been discussed among the socialists, all the more so if we bear in mind the fact that Comrade Fatos DOES NOT have the majority of the delegates behind him. Last year he managed to keep a People’s Assembly in session for a full three weeks, so holding a congress should be even easier for him. Although Nano is not being asked to resign today, but to step down from the post of chairman. Unlike his comrade, as well as ... (unclear text) If he resigns (but nobody knows who would succeed him), things will go more smoothly. The socialists have also settled on a chairman. Since the majority of the many members present at the PS meeting did not sort things out, this time eyes have turned to the sympathizers, or, to put it more plainly, to the independents. It is said that this heavy burden will be carried on the shoulders of the former chairman of the Presidium of the People’s Assembly, Doctor of Exact Sciences Ka-stati Lami. Doctor Lami himself had stated that physics is connected with politics, but not with the politics practiced here. Nevertheless, he has waited until tomorrow. GEZIM ZAJMI

Towards democratic socialism (LIKE REHOVA)

FATOS NANO ON SOCIAL ASSISTANCE In response to a difficult question at a press conference (before the elections), Fatos Nano, answering, “explained”: ...“Well, it is a time of paradoxes, but also of a mania for turning things into paradoxes.” In fact, the following lines have no logical connection to paradox. We have now learned that the market economy divides its members and supporters into winners and losers. But when you see in the latter camp prominent advocates of the market economy (with a social dimension), such as Comrade Fatos, you cannot help forgiving the paradox, because few can believe that Comrade Fatos, now that he may lose the post of PS chairman after the elections, will also be left without a job. The reason is 22 March. In any case, Comrade Fatos (in this instance too) is a proponent of the theory of gradualism and does not think that people of this kind should go on social assistance, at least until parliament finally sets the salaries of MPs. In conclusion, it turns out that Nano, although an economist, does not do his sums well in politics. Perhaps today he envies the socialist Dede, who is challenging economics professors in business. Well, times of paradoxes... KASTRIOT SPIRO READ ON PAGE 3: At 24:00, Kadri Hazbiu enters Mehmet Shehu’s house.

ON THE TRAIL OF LUQ’S BUSINESS DEALINGS Tirana’s Refrigeration Plant, a den of corruption - The charming director Spartak Melcka flees to Italy - - Tirana’s Refrigeration Plant, a den of corruption - - The charming director Spartak Melcka flees to Italy - Tirana once had an industry chief on the Executive Committee who could charm everyone. He even charmed the chairman of everything, the handsome comrade Llambi Gëgpriti. This chief was called Spartak Melcka, an adventurer beyond compare; wherever he went, stories about him spread in all directions. One of his exploits was when the boss of the former Bloc took over: he threw the previous residents out in the middle of the night. That was Spartak Melcka under monism. Under pluralism he became even more charming, and his tricks worked both in heaven and on earth. These other, difficult times found Spartak directing the Tirana Refrigeration Plant. And although directors these days (depending on the state) were let loose to grab “whatever they could,” Spartak was undoubtedly at the forefront of this race. Let us be specific. Since the regime’s time, the Tirana Refrigeration Plant had stored and sold meat at the standard price of 17.6 lekë. But starting in January 1992, it was deemed appropriate to sell meat from these warehouses, without any processing whatsoever, for 19 lekë and in some cases even 25 lekë. The quantity sold above the standard price was 1,100 tons, and the money gained from these “small” differences was over 10 million. The explanation for these small differences was summed up in the words: “The old practice was followed (?)” ... A popular saying goes, “Where there is meat, there is wine and raki too.” And, surprisingly, this came true at the Tirana Refrigeration Plant as well. 6,500 liters of wine and 3,000 bottles of raki were stored in the plant’s cold rooms, and these had not been cleared through customs. EL-FRIGO-LTD — residents — of the Reception Directorate. Alongside its many other undertakings, the Refrigeration Enterprise has also ventured into the tricky business of joint ventures. Of course, Spartak is not absent from this game. The corporation’s name is EL-FRIGO-LTD. This firm is headquartered in the former Bloc area. Its building was previously administered by the former Reception Directorate. The latter transferred the building as capital (signed it over) to the Refrigeration Plant. The latter made the building available to the joint venture, which then leased several premises in foreign currency to another German firm. The activities of EL-FRIGO-LTD are not well known, but a few things have come to light: 10 tons of meat arriving from Greece were unloaded at the Refrigeration Plant. Meat certainly belongs in a refrigeration plant, but this merchandise should first have been cleared through customs. (It seems that even in this case the Refrigeration Plant managers need to learn that goods must be cleared through customs.) EL-FRIGO-LTD has also set its sights on the 1 Maj linden gardens. The procedure is as simple as before: someone signs, NTU transfers it to the Refrigeration Plant. The Refrigeration Plant signs it over to the joint venture. There is a tangle of mysteries at the Refrigeration Plant. They say a Macedonian firm is involved too. Some mysteries will be solved, but Spartak has taken some with him: he has flown to Italy and from there remembers, makes phone calls and asks how things are with the boss back here... KLAUS LULZIM HALILI

“One from the state, two from the people” - “A retrospective” - “One from the state, two from the people” - “A retrospective” - It has been said more than once that intellectuals in general are among the groups that will suffer most from the implementation of economic reform. Today, they are precisely the people who have become visitors to the many shops and storefronts, enjoying them simply as a museum. Their salaries are now laughable when you compare what they earn with the profits of those who sell cigarettes for a few hours at the ubiquitous kiosks along the sidewalks. This is the lot of most of them, though certainly not all. Some of their colleagues now look down on them from other heights, and sometimes they even reproach them for their “lack of initiative.” I do not mean those who have started doing business and demonstrated their abilities, becoming wealthy through honest means. Recently, some people, in the context of the market economy, have become very “original” in securing the necessary start-up funds to enter the market-economy game on equal terms. And there are many who are astonishing us! A good number of students at the University of Tirana have been stunned by the demands of some professors who, now during the examination session, are asking them for each exam (naturally, for a passing grade) no more and no less than 5,000 old lekë to pass. Someone is more modest and asks for no money, but for a pair of sandals or shoes for a relative. But there are other demands, even more outrageous. Heaven help us, for the demands may get worse later, say during the autumn examination session, when the “risk” is greater! But are these the only “monsters,” who, in a time without a state, take a bite from both the state and the people? We, who are around the ... (unclear text), recommend that, if someone has been wrongly denied the right to ..., they should go to an “honest” lawyer to help them legally and—why not—with a delay (!), the lawyer says quietly that this matter will cost 100,000 old lekë, handed over discreetly, of course, without anyone finding out. That is quite a lot to pay, since he is supposedly educated and respectable; otherwise he should say: Who is this brave man who toys with the law? How can you get him out without catching him red-handed with money? And after this commotion, I left... (Continued on page 3)

1. THESE DAYS, THE SOCIALISTS ARE GOING TO THEIR FIRST CONGRESS FOR THE THIRD TIME. 2. ACCORDING TO ZP, THE SOCIALISTS’ RANKS GROW EVERY DAY, WHILE THEIR VOTES DECREASE EVERY DAY. 3. FOR TRUE SOCIALISTS, THERE IS ONE, AND THE ONES ARE MANY. 4. FOOTPRINTS ARE APPEARING ON THE UNTRODDEN PATHS. 5. THE PS MANAGES TO TAKE THE (FORMER) OPPOSITION’S PROGRAM, BUT NOT ITS PEOPLE. 6. THE FAR-SIGHTED SOCIALISTS WOULD DO WELL TO LOOK NEARBY. 7. SOCIALISTS ARE FIGHTING PEOPLE WHO FALL INTO TWO CATEGORIES: SOME FIGHT OTHERS, AND SOME FIGHT ON BEHALF OF OTHERS. L. D.